Defect pairing in Fe-doped SnS van der Waals crystals: a photoemission and scanning tunneling microscopy study.

We investigate the effect of low concentrations of iron on the physical properties of SnS van der Waals crystals grown from the melt. By means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and photoemission spectroscopy we study Fe-induced defects and observe an electron doping effect in the band structure of the native p-type SnS semiconductor. Atomically resolved and bias dependent STM data of characteristic defects are compared to ab initio density functional theory simulations of vacancy (VS and VSn), Fe substitutional (FeSn), and Fe interstitial (Feint) defects. While native SnS is dominated by acceptor-like VSn vacancies, our results show that Fe preferentially occupies donor-like interstitial Feint sites in close proximity to VSn defects along the high-symmetry c-axis of SnS. The formation of such well-defined coupled (VSn, Feint) defect pairs leads to local compensation of the acceptor-like character of VSn, which is in line with a reduction of p-type carrier concentrations observed in our Hall transport measurements.

Epitaxial growth and characterization of SnSe phases on Au(111).

Two-dimensional (2D) layered group IV-VI semiconductors attract great interest due to their potential applications in nanoelectronics. Depending on the dimensionality, different phases of the same material can present completely different electronic and optical properties, expanding its applications. Here, we present a combined experimental and theoretical study of the atomic structure and electronic properties of epitaxial SnSe structures grown on a metallic Au(111) substrate, forming almost defect-free 2D layers. We describe a coverage-dependent transition from a metallicß-SnSe to a semiconductingα-SnSe phase. The combination of scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy, non-contact atomic force microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy/diffraction and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, complemented by density functional theory, provides a comprehensive study of the geometric and electronic structure of both phases. Our work demonstrates the possibility to grow two distinct SnSe phases on Au(111) with high quality and on a large scale. The strong interaction with the substrate allows the stabilization of the previously experimentally unreportedß-SnSe, while the ultra-thin films of orthorhombicα-SnSe are structurally and electronically equivalent to bulk SnSe.

Oxygen dissociation by concerted action of di-iron centers in metal-organic coordination networks at surfaces: modeling non-heme iron enzymes.

The high chemical reactivity of unsaturated metal sites is a key factor for the development of novel devices with applications in sensor engineering and catalysis. It is also central in the research for sustainable energy concepts, e.g., the efficient production and conversion of chemical fuels. Here, we study the process of oxygen dissociation by a surface-supported metal-organic network that displays close structural and functional analogies with the cofactors of non-heme enzymes. We synthesize a two-dimensional array of chemically active di-iron sites on a Cu(001) surface where molecular oxygen readily dissociates at room temperature. We provide an atomic-level structural and electronic characterization before and after reaction by combining scanning tunneling microscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and density functional theory. The latter identifies a novel mechanism for O2 dissociation controlled by the cooperative catalytic action of two Fe2+ ions. The high structural flexibility of the organic ligands, the mobility of the metal centers, and the hydrogen bonding formation are shown to be essential for the functionality of these active centers allowing to mimick biologically relevant reactions in a confined environment.

Electronic Structure of Monolayer FeSe on Si(001) from First Principles.

The huge increase in the superconducting transition temperature of FeSe induced by an interface to SrTiO3 remains unexplained to date. However, there are numerous indications of the critical importance of specific features of the FeSe band topology in the vicinity of the Fermi surface. Here, we explore how the electronic structure of FeSe changes when located on another lattice matched substrate, namely a Si(001) surface, by first-principles calculations based on the density functional theory. We study non-magnetic (NM) and checkerboard anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) magnetic orders in FeSe and determine which interface arrangement is preferred. Our calculations reveal interesting effects of Si proximity on the FeSe band structure. Bands corresponding to hole pockets at the Γ point in NM FeSe are generally pushed down below the Fermi level, except for one band responsible for a small remaining hole pocket. Bands forming electron pockets centered at the M point of the Brillouin zone become less dispersive, and one of them is strongly hybridized with Si. We explain these changes by a redistribution of electrons between different Fe 3d orbitals rather than charge transfer to/from Si, and we also notice an associated loss of degeneracy between dxz and dyz orbitals.

A highly durable graphene monolayer electrode under long-term hydrogen evolution cycling.

Achieving long term stability of single graphene sheets towards repeated electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) cycling has been challenging. Here, we show through appropriate electrode preparation that it is possible to obtain highly durable isolated graphene electrodes, which can survive several hundreds of HER cycles with virtually no damage to the sp2-carbon framework and persistently good electron transfer characteristics.

Spin and orbital magnetic moment anisotropies of monodispersed bis(phthalocyaninato)terbium on a copper surface.

The magnetic properties of isolated TbPc(2) molecules supported on a Cu(100) surface are investigated by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism at 8 K in magnetic fields up to 5 T. The crystal field and magnetic properties of single molecules are found to be robust upon adsorption on a metal substrate. The Tb magnetic moment has Ising-like magnetization; XMCD spectra combined with multiplet calculations show that the saturation orbital and spin magnetic moment values reach 3 and 6 mu(B), respectively.

Supramolecular control of the magnetic anisotropy in two-dimensional high-spin Fe arrays at a metal interface.

Magnetic atoms at surfaces are a rich model system for solid-state magnetic bits exhibiting either classical or quantum behaviour. Individual atoms, however, are difficult to arrange in regular patterns. Moreover, their magnetic properties are dominated by interaction with the substrate, which, as in the case of Kondo systems, often leads to a decrease or quench of their local magnetic moment. Here, we show that the supramolecular assembly of Fe and 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid molecules on a Cu surface results in ordered arrays of high-spin mononuclear Fe centres on a 1.5 nm square grid. Lateral coordination with the molecular ligands yields unsaturated yet stable coordination bonds, which enable chemical modification of the electronic and magnetic properties of the Fe atoms independently from the substrate. The easy magnetization direction of the Fe centres can be switched by oxygen adsorption, thus opening a way to control the magnetic anisotropy in supramolecular layers akin to that used in metallic thin films.

Twin Domain Structure in Magnetically Doped Bi2Se3 Topological Insulator.

Twin domains are naturally present in the topological insulator Bi2Se3 and strongly affect its properties. While studies of their behavior in an otherwise ideal Bi2Se3 structure exist, little is known about their possible interaction with other defects. Extra information is needed, especially for the case of an artificial perturbation of topological insulator states by magnetic doping, which has attracted a lot of attention recently. Employing ab initio calculations based on a layered Green's function formalism, we study the interaction between twin planes in Bi2Se3. We show the influence of various magnetic and nonmagnetic chemical defects on the twin plane formation energy and discuss the related modification of their distribution. Furthermore, we examine the change of the dopants' magnetic properties at sites in the vicinity of a twin plane, and the dopants' preference to occupy such sites. Our results suggest that twin planes repel each other at least over a vertical distance of 3-4 nm. However, in the presence of magnetic Mn or Fe defects, a close twin plane placement is preferred. Furthermore, calculated twin plane formation energies indicate that in this situation their formation becomes suppressed. Finally, we discuss the influence of twin planes on the surface band gap.

Strain and Charge Doping Fingerprints of the Strong Interaction between Monolayer MoS2 and Gold.

Gold-mediated exfoliation of MoS2 has recently attracted considerable interest. The strong interaction between MoS2 and Au facilitates preferential production of centimeter-sized monolayer MoS2 with near-unity yield and provides a heterostructure system noteworthy from a fundamental standpoint. However, little is known about the detailed nature of the MoS2-Au interaction and its evolution with the MoS2 thickness. Here, we identify the specific vibrational and binding energy fingerprints of this interaction using Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which indicate substantial strain and charge doping in monolayer MoS2. Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy reveals heterogeneity of the MoS2-Au interaction at the nanoscale, reflecting the spatial nonconformity between the two materials. Micro-Raman spectroscopy shows that this interaction is strongly affected by the roughness and cleanliness of the underlying Au. Our results elucidate the nature of the MoS2-Au interaction and guide strain and charge doping engineering of MoS2.

pH sensitivity of interfacial electron transfer at a supported graphene monolayer.

Electrochemical devices based on a single graphene monolayer are often realized on a solid support such as silicon oxide, glassy carbon or a metal film. Here, we show that, with graphene on insulating substrates, the kinetics of the electron transfer at graphene with various redox active molecules is dictated by solution pH for electrode reactions that are not proton dependent. We attribute the origin of this unusual phenomenon mainly to electrostatic effects between dissolved/dissociated redox species and the interfacial charge due to trace amounts of ionizable groups at the supported graphene-liquid interface. Cationic redox species show higher electron transfer rates at basic pH, while anionic species undergo faster electron transfer at acidic pH. Although this behavior is observed on graphene on three different insulating substrates, the strength of this effect appears to differ depending on the surface charge density of the underlying substrate. This finding has important implications for the design of electrochemical sensors and electrocatalysts based on graphene monolayers.

Correction: pH sensitivity of interfacial electron transfer at a supported graphene monolayer.

Correction for 'pH sensitivity of interfacial electron transfer at a supported graphene monolayer' by Michel Wehrhold et al., Nanoscale, 2019, DOI: 10.1039/c9nr05049c.

Electronic structure of Fe1.08Te bulk crystals and epitaxial FeTe thin films on Bi2Te3.

The electronic structure of thin films of FeTe grown on Bi2Te3 is investigated using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy and first principles calculations. As a comparison, data from cleaved bulk Fe1.08Te taken under the same experimental conditions is also presented. Due to the substrate and thin film symmetry, FeTe thin films grow on Bi2Te3 in three domains, rotated by 0°, 120°, and 240°. This results in a superposition of photoemission intensity from the domains, complicating the analysis. However, by combining bulk and thin film data, it is possible to partly disentangle the contributions from three domains. We find a close similarity between thin film and bulk electronic structure and an overall good agreement with first principles calculations, assuming a p-doping shift of 65 meV for the bulk and a renormalization factor of around two. By tracking the change of substrate electronic structure upon film growth, we find indications of an electron transfer from the FeTe film to the substrate. No significant change of the film's electronic structure or doping is observed when alkali atoms are dosed onto the surface. This is ascribed to the film's high density of states at the Fermi energy. This behavior is also supported by the ab initio calculations.

Magnetic phases of cobalt atomic clusters on tungsten.

First-principle calculations are employed to show that the magnetic structure of small atomic clusters of Co, formed on a crystalline W(110) surface and containing 3-12 atoms, strongly deviates from the usual stable ferromagnetism of Co in other systems. The clusters are ferri-, ferro- or non-magnetic, depending on cluster size and geometry. We determine the atomic Co moments and their relative alignment, and show that antiferromagnetic spin alignment in the Co clusters is caused by hybridization with the tungsten substrate and band filling. This is in contrast with the typical strong ferromagnetism of bulk Co alloys, and ferromagnetic coupling in Fe/W(110) clusters.